It was new year day. Everyone were busy in get-together with warm wishes of New Year saying "Saal Mubarak" to everyone.
I woke up a bit late, you can say around 7:30. I was at Sunil Acharya's house and I was so much overwhelmed with the warm welcome by him and his family members. Had a bath, had tea and snacks, then packed my beg again to start the further journey.
The route plan for 2nd day was as per below:
Vadodara->Chandod/Karnali->Sardar Sarovar->Rajpipla->Bharuch (Night halt at NH8)
I just checked GPS and found that I am very near to highway and just 4 km and I was on the highway to Dabhoi. It was lovely morning, the sun was shining with mild sun-light and highway was pretty clear. I maintained my speed 50-55 kmph. The tank was still having enough fuel surprisingly. Just wanted to remind you that I re-fueled my tank when I was about to reach Vadodara. Then I finished whole day trip of Pavagadh, Champaner, Vadodara, and right now even half of the fuel is still left...!!!
A small mistake I made selecting the road. I planned that from Dabhoi, I will catch the highway to Garudeshwar, and then will reach to Karnali (Narmada) by a sub-road in between. But by mistake I turned right a bit early and took the highway to Rajpipla.
I understood the mistake and soon took left to the inner village road and reached Chandod instead of Karnali. Well, though not a bad situation, because Narmada was still there and fortunately, I found a big boat taking people from Chandod to Karnali in Just 50 Rs (to and fro). So I parked my bike there in the village itself and took my seat in the Boat. The boat capacity was around 25-30 people and all villagers were there going to Kuber Temple, Karnali.
Ohh.... lovely ride through real Narmada River in a local village boat. I talked to local villagers and they said that whole village goes to Karnali every year in the new year day. They all were so much helpful and so much enthusiastic to know from where I have come, how I reached there etc. They got so much impressed and thrilled, when I told that I am on bike ride of 4 days and my destination is south Gujarat now. :)
Kuber Bhandari temple is situated on the bank of River Narmada at Karnali. You can reach there by road or by boat. There is a nice facility of stay and meal at the temple (Yes, do not expect luxury as this is an old yet very much elegant temple)
A nice lunch there of Potato Sabjee, Ganthia, Bundi and rice. The villagers were so kind, that when I returned back, they refused to take money from me for the boat, but I insisted and gave it to boatman forcibly.
Once again a single bike kick, engine started and journey continued....
It took 15-20 minutes to reach highway but the road was superb. It was bumpy and running parallel to the river Narmada. No traffic at all as it was village approach road.
It was almost 2:30 of noon and I have to reach Sardar Sarovar anyhow before 4 PM because the visit is only allowed till 6 PM there. So I put a bit more pressure on throttle and crossed Rajpipla and took halt for a Tea. I talked with local people and found that there is a short-cut way to reach Sardar Sarovar. For that you do not need to pass by Garudeshwar, there is one internal village road.
A nice yet a bit narrow road, but there is a caution. Before you reach to Sardar Sarovar, you have to first approach "Swagat Sthal" (Reception Area) from where you have to take entry passes for people and vehicles. Passes are only for 4 wheelers, bikers can go with individual passes. The price of the pass was 12 Rs. Now the caution is, that if you go by the road which I have mentioned in above image, then Swagat Sthal is left behind (it come on the way if you enter by Garudeshwar road). In that case you will have to go back 3-4 km and collect the entry passes. The same I did. :)
The road to Sardar Sarovar is one way and circular. But I must say, it is LOVELY road with scenic beauty of the reservoir jungle. If you complete a full circular road, you will be able to visit almost 80% of the dam and their components such as Main Canal, cosway, the catchment area, Sarovar's main approach area (from where Narmada's water coming inside the dam).
When I reach at the dam site, I felt an unknown tremor inside me, because I was in front of one of the largest dams of India to which I only studied from my text books of higher secondary school. According to local guide, the cement which is being used to build the dam is enough to make a 4 track road between Delhi and Mumbai...!!! The dam is surrounded by green hills. It is approx. 160 meter tall from the foundation and spread across 200 km area. I could see 3 high-tension towers which were passing the electricity lines towards Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
A beautiful garden, cafeteria increases the beauty of the dam visibility site. I was not having official permission otherwise you can even reach to the basement gallery of the dam where electricity generation is being executed, moreover they will provide you the guide to explain everything. This permission you can take from Gandhinagar (possibly from Narmada Nigam's office).
After finishing the complete observation, I returned back to Swagat Area. On the way, I saw huge Main Canal from where the water is being supplied to entire Gujarat and Rajasthan. There is a bridge over that canal, and when I was standing exactly at the center of the bridge to see the canal downwards which was passing millions of liter water, I felt goose bumps which even I always feel whenever I remember that site.
A nice ripe cucumber to eat on the way near canal and it was almost 6 PM and I wanted to head back to Rajpipla for the night halt. My plan was to reach Bharuch but it was not possible, so I decided to stay at Rajpipla somewhere in a hotel. Suddenly I got an idea that the jungle area is awesome here, and why can't the stay be arranged here? I checked at Swagat Sthal, but unfortunately the Vishram Gruh at Swagath Sthal was full. I inquired further and found that few kilometer away, there is a nice place called "Reva Bhawan" which is constructed recently. I went there but they have denied to give me the room without knowing me properly. :)
Then I remember one of my friends Anand Trivedi. I called him and he gave a reference for me from his contact and I could stay in a beautiful AC room at Rewa Bhawan in Just Rs. 400. Rewa Bhawan is a Dak Banglow kind of guest house having 2 floors with around 25-30 descent 3 Star level rooms and is approx. 3-4 km from Swagat Sthal. It was newly constructed hence cafeteria was not yet started.
Well, I took hot water bath and complete stress of journey went off in few minutes. I felt Pin-Drop silence around because this place is completely surrounded by jungle. There was a gallery in my room but nothing was visible except black shadows of trees and hills. And I was the only tourist residing there, only 4 people total in Rewa Bhawan. Me, the manager and 2 armed policemen.
I just inquired for dinner, and policemen laughed at me. They said sir, even for tea also you have to go 5 km far from here. I saw them my bike and they got shocked saying "oh my god, you have come by bike??? from where????" After knowing everything they guided me and I started my bike again to go inside jungle for 5 km where a beautiful restaurant named "Hotel Riverdel". This beautiful restaurant is just beside Narmada Canal. Unfortunately when I went there, the power failed suddenly. This is obvious in the village area, nothing new. But this really increased the joy of dinner several times. Because, I was sitting on a table which was last, and the canal-jungle area was next to it, and only light source was the candle which waiter have put on my table.
Guyz, you can imagine, a candle lit dinner of Sev-Tomato Sabji, Paratha and Butter Milk with enjoyment of silence of the Narmada Valley and chilling breeze coming from the river area. Nothing more I can express in words here, hope you understand... :)
After having my meal, I returned back to Rewa Bhawan, planned for my next day route (This I will discuss in next post). Television was not working, thank god, I just roam around the garden area of the Guest House, finally felt drowsy and went for sleep around at 10:30 PM. Next day I have to wake up early because I wanted to start at-least before 8 AM.
See you guys, get ready for 3rd Day, it is more thrilling. :) ENJOY....
I woke up a bit late, you can say around 7:30. I was at Sunil Acharya's house and I was so much overwhelmed with the warm welcome by him and his family members. Had a bath, had tea and snacks, then packed my beg again to start the further journey.
The route plan for 2nd day was as per below:
Vadodara->Chandod/Karnali->Sardar Sarovar->Rajpipla->Bharuch (Night halt at NH8)
I just checked GPS and found that I am very near to highway and just 4 km and I was on the highway to Dabhoi. It was lovely morning, the sun was shining with mild sun-light and highway was pretty clear. I maintained my speed 50-55 kmph. The tank was still having enough fuel surprisingly. Just wanted to remind you that I re-fueled my tank when I was about to reach Vadodara. Then I finished whole day trip of Pavagadh, Champaner, Vadodara, and right now even half of the fuel is still left...!!!
A small mistake I made selecting the road. I planned that from Dabhoi, I will catch the highway to Garudeshwar, and then will reach to Karnali (Narmada) by a sub-road in between. But by mistake I turned right a bit early and took the highway to Rajpipla.
I understood the mistake and soon took left to the inner village road and reached Chandod instead of Karnali. Well, though not a bad situation, because Narmada was still there and fortunately, I found a big boat taking people from Chandod to Karnali in Just 50 Rs (to and fro). So I parked my bike there in the village itself and took my seat in the Boat. The boat capacity was around 25-30 people and all villagers were there going to Kuber Temple, Karnali.
Ohh.... lovely ride through real Narmada River in a local village boat. I talked to local villagers and they said that whole village goes to Karnali every year in the new year day. They all were so much helpful and so much enthusiastic to know from where I have come, how I reached there etc. They got so much impressed and thrilled, when I told that I am on bike ride of 4 days and my destination is south Gujarat now. :)
Kuber Bhandari temple is situated on the bank of River Narmada at Karnali. You can reach there by road or by boat. There is a nice facility of stay and meal at the temple (Yes, do not expect luxury as this is an old yet very much elegant temple)
A nice lunch there of Potato Sabjee, Ganthia, Bundi and rice. The villagers were so kind, that when I returned back, they refused to take money from me for the boat, but I insisted and gave it to boatman forcibly.
Once again a single bike kick, engine started and journey continued....
It took 15-20 minutes to reach highway but the road was superb. It was bumpy and running parallel to the river Narmada. No traffic at all as it was village approach road.
It was almost 2:30 of noon and I have to reach Sardar Sarovar anyhow before 4 PM because the visit is only allowed till 6 PM there. So I put a bit more pressure on throttle and crossed Rajpipla and took halt for a Tea. I talked with local people and found that there is a short-cut way to reach Sardar Sarovar. For that you do not need to pass by Garudeshwar, there is one internal village road.
A nice yet a bit narrow road, but there is a caution. Before you reach to Sardar Sarovar, you have to first approach "Swagat Sthal" (Reception Area) from where you have to take entry passes for people and vehicles. Passes are only for 4 wheelers, bikers can go with individual passes. The price of the pass was 12 Rs. Now the caution is, that if you go by the road which I have mentioned in above image, then Swagat Sthal is left behind (it come on the way if you enter by Garudeshwar road). In that case you will have to go back 3-4 km and collect the entry passes. The same I did. :)
The road to Sardar Sarovar is one way and circular. But I must say, it is LOVELY road with scenic beauty of the reservoir jungle. If you complete a full circular road, you will be able to visit almost 80% of the dam and their components such as Main Canal, cosway, the catchment area, Sarovar's main approach area (from where Narmada's water coming inside the dam).
When I reach at the dam site, I felt an unknown tremor inside me, because I was in front of one of the largest dams of India to which I only studied from my text books of higher secondary school. According to local guide, the cement which is being used to build the dam is enough to make a 4 track road between Delhi and Mumbai...!!! The dam is surrounded by green hills. It is approx. 160 meter tall from the foundation and spread across 200 km area. I could see 3 high-tension towers which were passing the electricity lines towards Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
A beautiful garden, cafeteria increases the beauty of the dam visibility site. I was not having official permission otherwise you can even reach to the basement gallery of the dam where electricity generation is being executed, moreover they will provide you the guide to explain everything. This permission you can take from Gandhinagar (possibly from Narmada Nigam's office).
After finishing the complete observation, I returned back to Swagat Area. On the way, I saw huge Main Canal from where the water is being supplied to entire Gujarat and Rajasthan. There is a bridge over that canal, and when I was standing exactly at the center of the bridge to see the canal downwards which was passing millions of liter water, I felt goose bumps which even I always feel whenever I remember that site.
A nice ripe cucumber to eat on the way near canal and it was almost 6 PM and I wanted to head back to Rajpipla for the night halt. My plan was to reach Bharuch but it was not possible, so I decided to stay at Rajpipla somewhere in a hotel. Suddenly I got an idea that the jungle area is awesome here, and why can't the stay be arranged here? I checked at Swagat Sthal, but unfortunately the Vishram Gruh at Swagath Sthal was full. I inquired further and found that few kilometer away, there is a nice place called "Reva Bhawan" which is constructed recently. I went there but they have denied to give me the room without knowing me properly. :)
Then I remember one of my friends Anand Trivedi. I called him and he gave a reference for me from his contact and I could stay in a beautiful AC room at Rewa Bhawan in Just Rs. 400. Rewa Bhawan is a Dak Banglow kind of guest house having 2 floors with around 25-30 descent 3 Star level rooms and is approx. 3-4 km from Swagat Sthal. It was newly constructed hence cafeteria was not yet started.
Well, I took hot water bath and complete stress of journey went off in few minutes. I felt Pin-Drop silence around because this place is completely surrounded by jungle. There was a gallery in my room but nothing was visible except black shadows of trees and hills. And I was the only tourist residing there, only 4 people total in Rewa Bhawan. Me, the manager and 2 armed policemen.
I just inquired for dinner, and policemen laughed at me. They said sir, even for tea also you have to go 5 km far from here. I saw them my bike and they got shocked saying "oh my god, you have come by bike??? from where????" After knowing everything they guided me and I started my bike again to go inside jungle for 5 km where a beautiful restaurant named "Hotel Riverdel". This beautiful restaurant is just beside Narmada Canal. Unfortunately when I went there, the power failed suddenly. This is obvious in the village area, nothing new. But this really increased the joy of dinner several times. Because, I was sitting on a table which was last, and the canal-jungle area was next to it, and only light source was the candle which waiter have put on my table.
Guyz, you can imagine, a candle lit dinner of Sev-Tomato Sabji, Paratha and Butter Milk with enjoyment of silence of the Narmada Valley and chilling breeze coming from the river area. Nothing more I can express in words here, hope you understand... :)
After having my meal, I returned back to Rewa Bhawan, planned for my next day route (This I will discuss in next post). Television was not working, thank god, I just roam around the garden area of the Guest House, finally felt drowsy and went for sleep around at 10:30 PM. Next day I have to wake up early because I wanted to start at-least before 8 AM.
See you guys, get ready for 3rd Day, it is more thrilling. :) ENJOY....
Nice journey...interestring...waiting for 3rd day....
ReplyDeleteReally interesting. Keep it up..
ReplyDeleteReally interesting. Keep it up..
ReplyDelete